Michael Leask

My habits as a writer. I’ll start with the most obvious. Write. Write about everything, even if it’s not posted or shared. However, I believe that the way one writes is important. Each topic should be written as if it were a 500-word essay at university; this means the document expands on the subject to fully develop the idea rather than stating it and letting the reader assume they know what you mean. This is great practice for everyday life, including continuing one’s practice in grammar (which everyone needs, including me) and emailing a colleague. More importantly, it helps the writer to learn how to expand ideas when it comes to stories so the audience can have the gravitas that was envisioned.

I still use slang when speaking and, if required, when texting, but I think keeping my writing as formal as if I were at university expands literacy, encompassing the skills of reading, comprehension, and writing rather than just the ability to read or write. I know plenty of people who can write a note, but they struggle to comprehend a book or follow directions — their level of literacy is low.

Reading is my next habit as a writer, and, similar to the practice of writing, I read everything, even genres I’m not particularly drawn to. I read science fiction, but you’ll notice that many of my book reviews have been on books that are not sci-fi. This involves continuing to practice reading and observing how other authors approach their ideas and write. I’ve picked up a few tricks to improve my writing, new ways of saying the same thought I’ve had, or even a new word that describes a sentence I’ve been working on.

I’ve recently read Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card. He doesn’t use the same language I’ve been using in my novels. His writing has a more ‘Christian’ flare. There is no swearing; there is monogamy and the idea of loving thy enemy – at least in the Ender’s Game series which is the books I’ve read from him. I think it works for those novels. Would it work for mine? Not for the ones that I have written. My characters are labourers or more salt of the earth. They swear and hate people who harmed them. But it still gives me the idea, could I write a story like that? I think it’s admirable, and what he has done has been fantastic, but I wouldn’t have known that if I hadn’t continued to read.

My final habit as a writer, and one that I think every writer should practice rather than overlook: exercise. I don’t mean going for a walk when experiencing brain fog or writer’s block. I mean regular exercise. Every day for a minimum of 30 minutes. Everyone can put in 30 minutes, even if it’s at home. This gets the blood flowing, limbers the writer up after hours of sitting in the chair, and also keeps the mind active. I exercise with High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), which can be done with no weights, just the body, or with weights. Many workout programs are on YouTube. I prefer working out at home because it’s a great time-saver for the style of exercise I’m doing. Still, having worked in a gym, I understand the need for individuals to visit a facility to stay active.

These are the three areas which are daily habits for me as a writer. Each one helps improve my practice with writing, reading, and literacy skills and keeps me healthy. What are your daily habits that maintain or improve your profession?